Automatic gas appliance



March 26, 1935. F.- A, GAUGER 1,9959846 l AUTOMATIC GAS APPLIANCE Filed Aug. 14, 19:55

INVNTOR Patented Mar. 26,'.1935

yUNITED STAT-Es PATENT o-Fri'cE l AUTOMATIC lisrmuca H Frank A. Glru'cl', 4 949 APPM 36.21, a"

This invention relates to an automatic gas appliance, and is particularly directed to an automatic storage hot water heater.

' In storage heaters, as heretofore constructed,

there were a number'of losses. For instance, after the heater had operated and had cut oi! there was a continual circulation oi' air throughthe heater which cooled the heater and wasted the y heat stored in the metal parts oi the heater. 'I'his was true, whether the heater was a separate unit outside of the'storage tank, and even more so when the heater was built into the storage tank as the air circulation cooled the heat- :er parts and also cooled lthe contents of the storage tank as the circulation of cooling air, in this latter case, was through the storage tank.

'Another loss was due to the' constant waste from the pilot light.l This loss is really material for it continuesfor a full twenty-four hours each day and, as compared with the time during which the heater is active, isv a very long relative period.

This invention is designed to overcome the defects noted above, and objects of this invention are to provide on the one hand storage'or other type of heater which automatically closes oif the passages for the products of combustion after the heater has ceased to function and thus prevents a cooling circulation of air, and on the other hand extinguishes the pilot light during the periods of inaction, again automatically lighting the pilot. light when the heater is again called into operation.

Further objects are to provide a very simple -device for accomplishing these desirable results, and one that may be cheaply manufactured and ,readily installed. l

Further and more specific objects are to provide a double safety feature for the automatic,V

lighting of the device, so that even if a relatively slow thermally responsive device controlled the main valve, that even if the pilot light of such device had been extinguished and the deA vice had not yet responded or settled back to r its inoperative position, nevertheless an auxiliary pilot light is maintained until the thermally responsive device has regained its original state.

Since the circulatory passages for the heater are closed after the heater ceases burning, it is clear that if the main burner were again turned on, with the passages closed, there would be great danger of an explosion. This invention, therefore, has for its further object the provision of absolutely reliable means for opening the circulatory passageways under all conditions when- .stood that other means may ever the main burner is turned. on, such means d being so constructed that it is impossible to turn on the main-burner without. opening the passageways. Y n A Y An embodiment of the invention is shown in' 5V the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Figure 1 isv a view, somewhat diagrammatic and broken away, ofa storage heater.

Figure 2 isan enlarged\sectional viewon the line 2-2 of Figurel.

Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that a storage tankl has been shown as provided with a heater `'built into and forming a unitary structure with the tank. The drawing showsrpthe tank broken away, but obviouslyit maybe'as tall or 15 as large as desired.

The tank 1 has a dome-shaped shell 2 forming the bottom wall of 'the water compartment, and has a bottom wall 3, andis carried in any `suitable "inanner as bymeans of llegs 4, for in- `Water inlet pipe 10 leads into .the lower portion of L30 the tank and a hot water outlet pipe 11 leads from the tank. Obviously the outlet pipe is preferably insulated (not shown) in the usual manner.

A lower shutter 12 and an upper shutter 13 close the air inlet pipe 5 and the outlet pipe 7 35 when the burner is not in operation. These shutters may be of similar construction and pass into slots cut half way through thepi-pes as indicated. Each shutter may be carried by a short shaft 14 provided with a crank 15, such cranks being 40 joined by a light connecting rod 16. One of the shutters is shown in raised position'in Figure 2. It is preferable to form the pipes and shutters oval as indicated in Figure 2. It is to be underbe used in place of 45 that specifically shown.

The main burner 17 is located within the combustion chamber, the main pilot 18 projects into such chamber, and it'is to be particularly noted .that an auxiliary or safety pilot 19 is located ad- 50 jacent both the main vpilot and the burner 17. The main burneer is controlled by an electromagnetic valve 20 and the main pilot 18 is controlled by a smaller electromagnetic valve 21. v

The auxiliary pilot is controlled by a valve 22,

rod.

- necessity of providing conduit.

operated by a rod 23 in a manner hereinafter to appear. It is to be noted that both pilots are supplied through a by-pass pipe 23 independently of the main valve 20 and that the auxiliary pilot 19 is independent of the valve 21 of the main pilot 18.

A bi-metalllc thermostatic member 24 is carried by the main pilot and moves downwardly when the main pilot is lighted. A light, pivoted lever 25, has its free end. bearing against the underside of -the member 24 and has its other end connected to the rod 23 so that when the `thermostatic member is heated by the main pilot,

the rod 23 moves upwardly and opens the valve 22' of the auxiliary pilot 19.

A mercury switch 26 is pivotally carried in a small housing 27 through which the rod 23 freely passes, and is tilted to closed position by the upward movement of the rod, and is tilted to open position by a downwardv movement of the An ignition electrode 28 is provided for the main pilot 18 and is supplied from the ignition transformer 29. Itis preferable to provide a switch operated from the main valve 20 for opening the circuit of the primary of the ignitionl transformer when the main valve opens. This may be done in any suitable manner. For instance, the movable contact 30 vof such switch'may be carried by an insulating rod 31 operated by the plunger 32 of the electromagnetic 4main valve 20. This movable contact may ,normally bridge stationary contacts connected by means of conductors 33 and 34 in the circuit of the primary i of the ignition transformer 29.

A thermostatic switch 35 is carried by the tank and has the portion 36 (which houses the temperature responsive elementslprojecting intothe Y tank. Preferably this thermostatic switch is adjustable. It has not been shown in detail as it may be any standard type desired.

` This thermostatic switch controls the connecting of all of the electrical apparatus to the supply lines or mains 37, which latter may be either the usual lighting mains, or may be low voltage mains supplied from a small step-down transformer, such as a bell ringing transformer. It is preferable to use low voltage to avoid the The branch supply conductors 38 and 39 supply all of the electrical devices, namely, e electromagnetic valves 20 and 21, and the ignition transformer 29. They are all controlled from the main thermostatic switch 35 which is responsive to.water temperatures.

It is to be noted, however, that the ignition transformer 29 is controlled jointly by the thermostatic switch 35 and the switch 30 of the main valve 20; that the electromagneticl valve 21 of 'the main pilot light 1s is controlled solely by the thermostatic switch 29; and that the electromagnetic main valve 20 is controlled jointly by the thermostatic switch 35 and the mercury switch 26, the latter being controlled by the thermostatic member 24 of the main pilot.y

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:- If the hot water has reached the member 36, the

Y. thermostatic switch 35 holds all circuits open.

If a replenishing of hot water is required, the

thermostatic switch 35 closes and, as the switch 30 is closed, the ignition transformer is thrown intooperation. Also, the electromagnetic valve 21 of the main pilot light 18 is opened and the main pilot light is, therefore, lighted.

When the thermostatic member 24 of the main pilot is sumciently heated by the main pilot, it moves downwardly, thus raising the rod 23 through the medium of the lever 25. This opens the valve 22 of the auxiliary pilot 19, which im'- mediately lights, and also tilts and thereby closes the mercury switch 26. The mercury switch completes the circuit for the main electromagnetic valve 20 and this valve opens, thereby turning on the gas for the main burner 17.

It is to be noted, particularly, that when the main valve 20 opens, its plunger 32 Yrises and moves the rod 16 upwardly, thereby opening both the upper shutter 13 and the lower shutter 12. This allows fresh air to enter the combustion chamber through the pipe 5, and allows the products of combustion to be discharged through the pipe 1. Further, the switch 30 is opened by the electromagnetic main valve 20 and the ignition transformer ceases to function.

After the requisite amount of water has been heated, the thermostatic switch, or main thermostatic member 35, opens and all circuits are then held open. However, it is to be noted that the auxiliary pilot 19 remains lighted until the thermostatic member 24 of the main pilot has cooled. Therefore, if a sudden demand should be made for vhot water before the thermostatic member 24 of the main pilot 18 had cooled sumciently, no harm would be done as the auxiliary pilot would light the burner 1'1, even in the event of failure or delayed action of the main pilot 18 This is anv important precautionary measure, as it precludes any possibility of an explosion from delayed action or failure of the main pilot 18, even under the abnormal condition outlined above.

On `the other hand, after the thermostatic member 24 of the main pilot 18 has cooled, gas

cannot be turned on for the main burner until the main pilot has been lighted and has heated its thermostatic member 24.

When the device is not in operation, both pilots are out, it being noted that the auxiliary pilot is cut out when the thermostatic member 24 of the main pilot has cooled, and that the main a storage water heater, or may be employed for other purposes if desired.

It will be seen further, that there is no undesirable cooling due to circulation of air when the device is not in operation, nor is there any waste from the pilot lights. y

The device is very simple in construction and is thoroughly reliable in operation. It may be cheaply built and readily installed.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting, as the invention may be variously embodied and is to be interpreted as claimed.

1. An automatic gas Vappliance comprising a main burner, a main pilot light, an auxiliary pil electromagnetic valve therefor, a main pilot light,

an electromagnetic valve for said main pilot light.

a thermostatic device responsive to said main pilot light, an electric switch controlled by said thermostatic device, an auxiliary pilot light, a valve controlled from said thermostatic device for controlling said auxiliary pilot light, ignition means for said main pilot. light,` and a main thermostatic means controlling said ignition means and both said electromagnetic valves, said switch additionally controlling the electromagnetic valve of said main burner.

3. A gas appliance comprising a mainburner,

an electromagnetic valve therefor, a main pilot light,an electromagnetic valve for said main pilot light', a thermostatic device responsive to said main pilot light, anelectric switch controlled by said thermostatic device, an auxiliary pilot light, a valve controlled from said thermostatic device for controlling said auxiliary pilot llight, ignition means for said main pilot light, and a main thermostatic means controlling said ignition means and both said electromagneticvalves. said switch additionally controlling the electromagnetic valve of said main burner, said ignition means being controlled from said ilrst electromagnetic valve. i L

4. In a gas appliance, the combination of a main burner, a first pilot light provided with thermostatic means, ignition means for said rst pilot light, a second pilot light, and a valve for said main burner, said thermostatic means controlling said second pilotlight and the valve for said main burner, said second pilot light remaining lighted .until said thermostatic means returns to its cooled position.

5. In a gas appliance, a liquid receiving tank, a main burner for heating the contents of said tank and having a combustion chamber within 1which such burner is located,'thermostatic means responsive to the temperature of said liquid, a pilot light having thermostatic means adapted to .be heated by said pilot light, ignition means forsaid pilot light, an auxiliary pilot light controlled from the thermostatic means of said first mentioned pilot light, means controlled vby the thermostatic means of said'iirst mentioned pilot light for controlling said main burner, and a pair of shutters for controlling the circulation oi air through said combustion chamber, said shutters being controlled by said last mentioned means, said pilot lights, said main burner, and said shutters being controlled from said iirst, mentioned thermostatic means.

6. In a gas appliance, the combination of a liquid receiving tank, means for heating the contents of said tank comprising a combustion chamber,.'a main burner within said chamber, said chamber having inlet and outlet openings, ther- Ill mostatic means responsive to the temperature of the liquid within said tank, a pilot light having thermostatic means adapted to be heated thereby,

ignitionmeans for said pilot light, an auxiliary pilot light controlled `from the thermostatic means of said rst mentioned pilot light, an electromagnetic valve for controlling said main burner, a switch controlling said electromagnetic valve and operated from the thermostatic means of the rst mentioned pilot light, and a pair of shut ters in the inlet "and outlet of said combustion 7. In a gas appliance, the combination of-a. r liquid receiving tank, means for heating the contents o f said tank comprising a combustion chamber, a main, burner within said chamber, said chamber having inlet and outlet openings, thermostatic means responsive to the temperature o f the liquid-within said tank, a pilot light having thermostatic means adapted to be heated thereby, ignition means for said pilot light, an Jauxiliary pilot light controlled from the thermostatic means of said iirst mentioned pilot light, an electromagnetic valve for controlling said main burner, a switch controlling said electromagnetic valve and operated from the thermostatic means oi' the iirst mentioned pilot light, a -pair of shutters in the inlet and outlet of said vcombustion chamber, said shutters being directly opened and closed by the electromagnetic valve of said main burner, and meansI operated by the electromagnetic 'means of said main burner for cutting'oi'f said ignition means when` said electromagnetic valve opens. 8. In a gas appliance, the combination of a liquid receiving tank, means for heatingthe contents of said tank comprising a combustion auxiliary pilot light controlled from the thermo static means bf said rst mentioned pilot light, an electromagneticfvalve for controlling said main burner, a switch`controlling said electromagnetic valve and operated from the thermostatic means of the first mentioned pilot light,

a pair of shutters in the inlet and outlet of said combustion chamber, said shutters being directly openedand closed, by the electromagnetic valve ofv said main burner, and means operated by the electromagnetic means of said main burner for cutting on said ignition means when said electromagnetic valve opens, said auxiliary pilot reev maining lighted until the thermostatic vmeans of the iirst mentioned pilot has returned to its cooled position.

9. In. a gas appliance, the 'combination of a main burner, an electromagnetic valve therefor, g

a master circuit controller, a main pilot light controlled from said master controller, electric ignition means controlled from both said master controller and from said electromagnetic `valve for said main burner, an auxiliary pilot light, thermostatic means actuated from said main pilot light for controlling said.auxiliary pilot light, said electromagnetic valve for said main burner being jointly controlled by said main con-- troller and said thermostatic means, and electric circuits for said main circuit controller, said eletromagnetic valve, and said ignition device.

10. In a gas appliance, the combination of a main burner, an electromagnetic valve therefor, a master circuit controller, a main pilot light controlled from said master controller, electric ignition means controlled 'fromboth said master controller arid from said electromagnetic valve for said main burner, an auxiliary pilot light, thermostatic means actuated from said main pilot light for controlling said auxiliary pilot light, said electromagnetic valve for said main burner being jointly controlled by said main pilot light for controlling said auxiliary pilot light, said electromagnetic valve for said main burner being jointly controlled by said main controller and said thermostatic means, and electric circuits for said main circuit controller, said electromagnetic valve, and said ignition device, said auxiliary pilot light being lighted from said main pilot light, said thermostatic means maintaining the auxiliary pilot light aitervignition i'or a material length of time irrespective of the condition 10 of any ot the electric circuits.

FRANK A. GAUGER. 

